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PSR
INTERVIEW

UP CLOSE DAVE OGREAN
Just a few weeks removed from the 2014

caught up with Ogrean to discuss Sochi, Pen-

Winter Olympics, USA Hockey Executive

guins coach Dan Bylsma, Bronze Medal games

Director Dave Ogrean was in northern Virginia

and the “stake in the heart” that was the ending

for

to the Women’s Olympic Tournament.

the

annual

Congressional

Hockey

Challenge. PSR contributing writer Alex Nseir

“You’re going to lose games, and you’re going to lose games sometime that you shouldn’t lose.”
Alex Nseir How do you wind down

from the highs and lows of Sochi?
Dave Ogrean: Those of us who work
in the Olympic movement, your
brains get wired in a four-year
cycle, and when the Olympic
flame goes out you just reset the
clock for four years. Because no
matter how well you do or how
poorly you do, it’s never a final report card. You’ve got to do your
very best to be prepared the next
time that you go out. And so there
are things that you learn, and one
of those things that you learn is
sometimes you’ve done everything
possible and you just lost. Because
of a bad bounce, a bad call, somebody was better that day. And just
like in real life, you just have to go
on from those days.
AN: What were your thoughts on

the women’s tournament?
DO: The women’s loss was about as

gut-wrenching as we’ve ever had
because, as you probably know, we
won the Gold Medal for the first
time in ‘98 in Nagano. Canada has
won the three since then. We
wanted to be back on top so much.
We thought we were going to win
this time. It’s always razor-thin

when U.S. and Canadian women
play, but we had won the last three
or four games against them. So, we
were very, very optimistic and confident… with four minutes to play
we were up 2-0. It was just a stake
in the heart, the way we lost. I
thought there was a call, it just
kills me, but I’ve never blamed the
refs for a loss, I’m not going to put
it all on them now.

Canada 1-0 and then… It is frustrating, but the exposure that we
made the medal round, with both
teams, the exposure our game got
with all of those games being live
on NBC Sports Network and restreamed and all the other stuff,
the numbers are just astronomical.
AN: No regrets about who you sent

to man the bench in Sochi?
DO: I think they’re terrific. I think

AN: And the men’s tournament?
DO: I think we had as good a team

as we’ve ever had in the Olympics
and they played great through the
preliminary rounds. The game
against Russia was probably one of
the most electrifying sports atmospheres that I was ever in.
But we were frustrated against
Canada, lost 1-0. And I think that
when we got behind to Finland it
seemed like the gas in the tank
went out. It’s very hard to get up
for a Bronze Medal game because
it means you’ve lost the game before. We did it successfully and we
won the Bronze Medal in the
World Championships last May,
but sometimes you’re just so down
and it’s a tougher thing to do... You
put so much into it, you lose to

www.pittsburghsportsreport.com

the coaching staff was great, the
management was great. I don’t second-guess those guys. They play in
the NHL; I haven’t seen any of
them go 80-0. You’re going to lose
games and you’re going to lose
games sometime that you
shouldn’t lose, you’re going to win
games you shouldn’t win. But the
puck bounces, sometimes it gets
stopped, sometimes it doesn’t, but
I think we had a tremendous
coaching staff. I think Dan Bylsma
is dynamite, I think our GM’s who
selected our team put a great team
together for the right reasons. You
know, everybody’s a good Monday
morning quarterback, and I can be
too, but you empower people who
you trust to make decisions and
then you go with it.

It’s all starting to make sense.
The Steelers have not made the playoffs the past two seasons.
The team parted ways with players
who were integral to a sustained run of
success that resulted in a pair of Super
Bowl championships. The defense got
old, the offense fizzled and the locker
room purged the veteran leadership
that made the 2000’s so special.
So it all went according to plan.
When general manager Kevin Colbert signed so many veteran players to
long-term extensions several years ago,
he knew full well he was risking the future for the now. The deals were going
to blow up future salary caps. The hope,
however, was to keep that championship window open just a little longer.
It almost worked. The 2010 team
reached the Super Bowl; a season later
they went 12-4 before losing a freakish

overtime game in Denver to the Tim
Tebow-led Broncos. Then, right on cue,
players got old, cap hits came and the
playoffs passed by.
And the rebuilding—to the extent
that consecutive .500 seasons can be
considered “rebuilding”—took place.
That rebuild is not yet complete, but
the heavy lifting has been done.
The Steelers released former All-Pro
linebacker LaMarr Woodley last month
and let out a sigh of relief that echoed
throughout the AFC North. They were
finally out from under their most disastrous contract in recent memory.
When the Steelers signed Woodley to
a $61.5 million extension in 2011, they
had little way of knowing that he would
miss nearly 45 percent of the team’s defensive plays over the next three seasons. But that’s exactly what happened.
Nagging injuries turned a once-lethal
weapon into just another guy opposing
teams handled with one blocker. It dramatically hastened the demise of the
once-feared Steelers defense.
Now, with the overpaid and seldom-

played Woodley out of the picture, the
final piece of the Steelers salary cup puzzle is in place. His release saves the team
$25 million over the next three seasons.
The savings this year alone will pay for
the entire 2014 draft class.
The Steelers are currently on the
books for $94 million in salary for the
2015 season, according to OverTheCap.com. The NFL salary cap is expected to reach $140 million that same
year. Factor in the next two draft classes,
and the Steelers will realistically enter
next offseason more than $30 million
under the cap.
That will allow them to extend Ben
Roethlisberger’s deal and do the same
with Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro if they choose. The extra cap
space will allow them the luxury of
doing so with ease, and still have money
to add pieces in free agency.
This didn’t happened by accident.
The current financial reality of the NFL
dictates that you have to pay the piper.
The Steelers are paid up.

Contents

April 2014 Vol. 18, No.3

FILM CREW

6 BLUE LINE: Penguins

Shelby Cassesse, Andrew Havranek,
Taylor Duncan, Nick Frost

As the playoffs arrive. the Pens are turning out to be just another hockey team.

The Penguins will not win the Stanley Cup this year. That is not opinion
or overreaction. It is, according to the
numbers, fact. Both the 2013 Chicago
Blackhawks and 2012 Los Angeles
Kings fared far better in the final
stretch of the season than the Penguins are this year. Statistically, at
least, Pittsburgh stands little chance
to win their fourth championship.
A recent trend of struggling against
playoff contending squads is certainly
troubling, but add in the Penguins increasingly consistent defensive woes,
and the recipe is disaster. Worse yet,
as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin
found out last spring, offensive hockey
is no cure-all in the postseason.
“We are more focused on how we
want to play in the games before the
playoffs,” said Crosby. “We judge and
evaluate ourselves on playing a playoff
style of game going into the playoffs.”
Two-time Cup champion Rob
Scuderi echoed similar sentiments.
“We have a lot of talent on this
team, but it doesn’t mean we are going
to win 4-1 or 5-2 every game. There
are going to be times where you have
to grind out a game,” the veteran defenseman said. “If you’re playing the
percentages, it will most times be a 32 or 2-1 game in the playoffs. We have
to learn how to play in those games
and play the right way.”
No period of the regular season is as

Injuries and less-than-stellar play have pushed the Penguins to the middle of the pack.

telling as the final 25 games. Teams
need the first 70 percent of the season
to gauge their playoff chances; they
need the final 30 percent to calculate
their Stanley Cup chances. Currently,
the Penguins odds are slim.
Pittsburgh kicked off the first 14
contests of their home stretch with a
6-5-3 record. That means the Penguins are winning just 43 percent of
their games during this crucial period.
It’s a small sample size, sure, but the
ten matches against fellow postseason

teams isn’t, considering that a playoff
series is only seven games long.
Just twice in the last 14 games have
the Penguins topped a team that will
also be competing in May. With only
seven games remaining against such
squads entering the month of April,
the best Pittsburgh can hope for is a
9-8 record. Of course, there is no indication that a sweep is on the horizon.
Last year’s Blackhawks finished
with a 10-2-2 record over the final 25

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percent of the shortened season. That
included a not-so-spectacular 3-2-1
mark against playoff teams, but the
.500 record will likely still be better
than the Penguins work over their
final 25 games of this season.
What is more impressive about the
Jonathan Toews led team is that they
posted three of their six season
shutouts in the final 14 games. Those
blanks dropped the team’s regulation

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THE

POST-CUP
POSTSEASONS
The Penguins won multiple
postseason series last year for the
first time since they won the
Stanley Cup in 2009. Here’s a
look at the team’s playoff struggles since putting together backto-back Finals appearances in
2008 and 2009.
2009-10

PENGUINS, from PAGE 6
goals against average to an impressive 2.00, which was below their season average.
The Penguins have allowed an average of 2.92 goals over the first 14
games of their final 25. That is nearly
.5 more goals allowed than their season average. In six of the 14 games,
Pittsburgh surrendered at least four
goals.
The 2011-12 Kings followed a similar path as the reigning NHL
champs. Los Angeles sported a 12-85 mark leading into the postseason
thanks in large part to their 11-4-4
record over the final 19 games of the

term. Jonathan Quick also allowed
almost one entire goal less per game
than the Penguins currently allow.
Their 2.04 GAA mark was, like the
Blackhawks, less than their season
average. In fact, the Kings combined
for five of their 11 season shutouts
over those 25 games. A 7-5-3 record
against playoff teams wasn’t sterling
for the Kings during their run, but
the eight total losses already match
the Penguins number with a few
weeks yet to go in the 2013-14 NHL
regular season.
Obviously neither of those teams
dealt with injury blows to their top
two defensemen. Los Angeles, however, did deal U.S. Olympian Jack
Johnson at the trade deadline while

Chicago forged ahead with a platoon
in net.
Clearly, the Penguins have some
work to do. As Dan Bylsma notes,
though, maybe that’s not all that bad
for his team.
“For right now, I’m kind of glad I
don’t have to hear that we are the favorite or a lock from the television
shows,” Bylsma said. “We are working and striving to be a better team.
The game against St. Louis (a 1-0
loss) was a great indicator. That’s a
playoff game and we came up short.
I think we can do better, so it is fine
that we don’t have to hear we are a
favorite.”

The play of Penguins captain Sidney Crosby has a tremendous impact
on every game the team plays. Whatever success the Penguins have in the
Stanley Cup Playoffs will depend
largely on the opposition’s ability to
contain No. 87.
But he is not doing it alone.
Goaltenders: Fleury, Vokoun and/or
Zatkoff— Everyone knows the last

few postseasons have been unkind to
Marc-Andre Fleury. He has to have a
good performance this spring, not only
to quiet critics but to solidify his status
as the Penguins’ franchise goalie.
Fleury is in the midst of a career season and shows few signs of slowing
down, but strong regular seasons have
not equaled strong postseasons lately,
as recent playoffs always seem to turn
Fleury into Swiss cheese. If he falters
yet again, the coaching staff has quite
a predicament on their hands: Jeff Zatkoff, who has played well in his debut
year but is ultimately inexperienced,
or veteran Tomas Vokoun who has
had great postseason success with the
Pens, but hasn’t played a game all
year? Whatever the decision, it could
be the difference between winning a
fourth Stanley Cup or coming up
short yet again.
Brandon Sutter— In their 2009

Stanley Cup season, the Pens had the
best third line in hockey, centered by
fan-favorite Jordan Staal. Even
though Sutter has been slightly more

Fleury, Sutter, Maatta and Stempniak (left to right)

productive offensively than his predecessor since the trade with the Carolina Hurricanes, the third line as a
unit is nowhere near as productive as
it was four years ago. The third line
must get involved offensively if the
team is to make a deep playoff run.
Sutter’s play on the penalty kill unit
will also be a huge factor in the postseason. Though they’ve consistently
had the best PK in the regular season,
the playoffs are a different monster.
Olli Maatta— Maatta has had an
outstanding rookie season and has solidified himself as one of the best defensemen on the team. It is vital to
note that it is his rookie season, how-

ever. No situation has been too big for
the physically imposing teenager this
year, but he has yet to see an NHL
postseason. The stability of the defense will depend on how well the 19year-old Finn handles the pressure of
the Stanley Cup playoffs. With injuries plaguing the defensive pairings,
Maatta has taken on extra minutes—
and time on the power play unit—and
capitalized with both. If he carries this
momentum through the playoffs, and
Paul Martin and/or Kris Letang return
to the lineup, the Penguins blue line
will be an imposing one.
Lee Stempniak— In his first eight

games with the Penguins, Stempniak

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made quite an impact playing alongside Crosby on the top line. With 10
points in his first 18 games, he has
wasted no time with getting comfortable with Crosby. The chemistry has
to continue into the playoffs for a successful run. With plenty of time to
work together before the postseason,
that chemistry should only build, creating a scarier first line than expected
since Pascal Dupuis sustained his
ACL injury. Stempniak gets into the
corners to fight for the puck and keeps
his head up for unexpected passes
from Crosby – pretty much the job description for a winger on the Crosby
line.

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Playoff Favorites

In the midst of this excitement surrounding the dawn of a new baseball season, a champion must be crowned in the sport of hockey. Sixteen
teams are lacing up their skates and preparing for the upcoming hunt
for the Stanley Cup. Here are the four favorites.
BY CARLEY THIERET

St. Louis Blues

The Blues entered the month of
April leading the Western Division.
With one of the most talented goaltenders in the league in the form of
Ryan Miller—recently obtained
from the Buffalo Sabres—the Blues
look to continue their hot streak approaching the playoffs. The Blues
have shown a high quality of play all
season long, but their track record
in the playoffs could pose some
questions in the minds of fans. They
blew a 2-0 series lead against the Los
Angeles Kings in the 2013 Stanley
Cup playoffs. While their regular
season has been impressive, trheir
relative lack of playoff experience
will be something to keep in mind.
The strength and aggression of their
top lines will make it difficult for opponents to match once the postseason starts.

Chicago Blackhawks

Boston Bruins

The defending champion Blackhawks sit a close second behind the
Blues in the race for the West title.
The Blackhawks return almost the
entire roster from the team that captured the franchise’s second Stanley
Cup in the past four years. The
‘Hawks possess arguably the most
depth in the NHL as well as experience on the big stage in playoff
games. They acquired defenseman
David Rundblad from the Phoenix
Coyotes to make the Cup run. the
last few weeks of the season have
been rough on the defending
champs, however, as injuries have
taken their toll on the top line as
well as taken a bite out of their
once-considerable depth. The Penguins, who know all about injury
problems, are shedding no tears.

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Pittsburgh Penguins

Sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings are last year’s conference champs, the Boston Bruins.
The Bruins will be no strangers to in
the annual quest for the cup and
have steadily seemed to improve as
the season has worn on. They put
together a double-digit winning
streak, the team’s longest in three
years, last month and coach Claude
Julien has said that he feels the team
is playing far from its best hockey as
the playoffs approach. Boston’s
strength comes from consistency
and seeing contributions up and
down all four lines. No team in the
NHL is playing better as the postseason nears. Top players to watch
during the playoffs will be David
Krejci and Jarome Iginla.

The Penguins will chase the Bruins for the top seed in the Eastern
Conference, but they enter April
with a comfortable lead in the Metropolitan division standings. Sidney
Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are playing well heading into the season’s
final games, and the addition of Lee
Stumpniak to the top line seems to
be working. The blue line has taken
major hits with Kris Letang’s stroke
and Paul Martin’s broken hand, but
perhaps the biggest weakness for the
Penguins is their goaltending. The
question seems to hold true every
year: how will Mark-Andre Fleury
play in the postseason? Fleury’s
play—or the Penguins ability to replace him should he struggle—are
the keys to a successful playoff run
for the Penguins.

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In the
Dugout CHARLIE MORTON
Pirates’ righthander Charlie Morton put
an exclamation point on his recovery from
Tommy John surgery in 2012 with the best
major league season of his career, posting 7-4
record with a 3.26 ERA. He added a strong
performance against the Cardinals in the

NLDS, pitching into the sixth inning and
allowing just three hits and two runs in the
Pirates’ Game 4 loss. Morton signed a threeyear deal with the Pirates this off-season. He
talked about his upcoming season.

“Since 2009 I’ve been with the organization and I feel like I’m a
Pirate. I feel like I came up with this organization.”

Q: Why was your three-year deal the

Q: What can this team take away

Q: You were once a young up-and-

Q: Was there a certain point last

right move for you?
A: Just my experience here with the Pirates. Since 2009 I’ve been with the organization and I feel like I’m a Pirate. I
feel like I came up with this organization even though I was with the Braves
for seven years. I’ve gone through a lot
with this organization and there’s been
nothing but support, so this is where
my wife and I wanted to be.

from the postseason last year as you
move forward into 2014?
A: The same thing can be said
about success, no matter when you
have it, to that degree. You built
confidence on 2011 and 2012, and
just carried through in 2013. So it’s
all about just building and moving
forward.

coming pitcher in this organization,
not unlike Gerrit Cole and Jamison
Taillon now. What make you excited to be part of a roation that
will include Gerrit and potentially
Jamison at some point?
A: It might be different because
they are younger, but they are professionals. You see it with Jeff
Locke, you see it with Brandon
Cumpton, and Gerrit. It’s exciting
to see young guys come up and
have success. It’s exciting to see
young guys come up and contribute
and be ready, and be professional,
and be mature and take the reins.
That’s something that I struggled
with for a long time, so it’s nice to
see the organization build those
guys and see the success that the
organization has had in producing
that kind of talent.

year after the surgery, during the
season, where you really felt like
you were back to where you wanted
to be?
A: The first game I pitched down
here in extended (spring training), I
was excited just because I felt good
and there was no pain. The velocity
was great, the stuff was great, there
was movement. But it was a process
and it still is. There is still maintenance work that I have to do and all
that, but there was never really a
"moment." There was never really a
moment where I said, "I’m back" because it really was a long process. So,
I think I learned a lot just going
through the rehab and learning how
to take better care of my shoulder
and my arm. Even though I felt
good, I did do a pretty good job of
that. You learn what you have to do.

celebrates its 238th birthday this coming July, the
Pirates could very well be
celebrating the arrival of
the next two stars to
come through PNC Park.

GREGORY POLANCO

Outfielder Gregory Polanco will start
his season with Triple-A Indianapolis,
but if all goes according to plan, he
could be in Pittsburgh by mid-season.
Polanco, considered the Pirates top
prospect, looks to man an outfield accompanied by veteran National League
MVP Andrew McCutchen and rising
star Starling Marte, a combination that
could prove to be lethal for opposing
teams.
Polanco’s strength stems from his 64, 220-pound frame. The massive lefty
has been described by teammates as
able to get to first base in four strides.
His agility, athleticism and outfield play
stood out in the major league camp this
spring, reinforcing the notion that he
will make the jump to the majors soon.

His time in Indianapolis will be spent
smoothing out the rough edges, most at
the plate.
"The biggest maturation he will have
to go through is learning how pitchers
attack him,” said Pirates hitting coach
Jeff Branson. “And how to lay off that
pitch inside.” Branson added that
Polanco must make small adjustments
like shortening his arms and maintaining patience when in the batters’ box.
Polanco was often paired with McCutchen and Marte during cage work
this spring, a potential sign of things to
come. McCutchen noted that the ball
jumps off of Polanco’s bat, and that he
is ready. It’s only a matter of time before
he makes his arrival.

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JAMESON TAILLON

Taillon is also close to making his
major league debut, perhaps following
the same path that current Pirates
starter Gerrit Cole did last season.
Taillon totes a nasty curveball in the
low 80’s that compliments a mid 90’s
fastball, but he’ll work on refining the
curve and strengthening his changeup in Triple-A. Adding stronger offspeed stuff to his repertoire will
amplify the velocity on his fastball.
Controlling the opposition’s running game, however, is probably the
biggest area of concern and improvement for Taillon before he makes the
transition to the majors.
“He’s a very astute young man, he
listens well, he practices sharp,” said
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle about

the 22 year old prospect. Hurdle believes that Taillon has taken big strides
in the past year, not only with his
game but personally as well.
Solidifying his consistency within
his game, especially through pitch selection and controlling the runners, is
the final obstacle for Taillon on the
way to the majors.
“I am already extremely, extremely
motivated to get up there, and that’s
been my goal since I’ve been little,”
said Taillon.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Taillon suffered
an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow in spring training. He will undergo Tommy John
surgery and miss the 2014 season.

PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014 11

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NOTES

ON

NEIL

Neil Walker enters his fifth fullseason in the majors this spring.
The 28-year-old is a lifetime .273
hitter who hit a career high 16
homeruns last season, but batted
a career-low .251. Walker also strruggled in his first postseason appearance, going 0-19 in the
Pirates NLDS loss to the St. Louis
Cardinals.
The 28-yearold Walker hit
a career high
.296 in 2010
when he finished fifth in
National League
Rookie of the Year
voting. The switch-hitter from Pine-Richland High
School posted career highs in
doubles (36), runs scored (76),
RBI (83), hits (163), total bases
(243) and fielding percentage
(.992) in the 2011 season - also
the only time in his career Walker
played a full slate of games, appearing in 159 games with 596 at
bats.
Walker ended last season
ranked 13th among Major League
Baseball second basemen by the
Elias Sports Bureau. He was
ranked 14th by CBSSports.com,
18th by Inside Edge and 19th by
ESPN.

Why Not Walker?
Pirates have yet to reach a deal with local second baseman
BY KURT HACKIMER

There was a time when Neil Walker
appeared to be the next Pirate on the
list for a contract extension.
However, given the team’s recent
$31 million deal with budding superstar Starling Marte, Walker, 28, seems
to have lost his place in line.
That begs the question: Why has
Walker, a hometown hero who
was drafted in the first round
after a stellar career at Pine Richland High School, never signed
a long-term contract with the Pirates?
The answer may lay in the Pittsburgh public’s perception of Neil
Walker.
In this year’s Baseball Prospectus, an
annual book that previews the upcoming baseball season, Walker is described as “The rare player who is
underrated nationally and overrated
locally.”
Sports Illustrated columnist and former Baseball Prospectus contributor Joe
Sheehan agrees with this assertion.
“[Walker] has no national profile
whatsoever,” Sheehan said. “He’s a
good balanced player but, if you’re a
Pirates fan and he’s a hometown guy
who was drafted number one, you
tend to pay more attention to him.”
“If you’re not in Pittsburgh, and you
don’t watch him play every day, he’s
someone who gets lost in the mix,” Pat
Lackey, owner of the Where Have You

Gone Andy Van
Slyke? blog, said. “I
don’t know that
there would be a
push to extend him
if he didn’t play in
his hometown.”
Of course, this
does not mean that
Walker is a bad
player. Walker is an
above average offensive
second
baseman and his
glove is almost as
good as his bat.
In 2013, he posted the best wins
above replacement total (WAR) of his
career despite only hitting for a .251
batting average, down from .280 in
2012. His 2.7 WAR, buoyed by improved defense and power numbers,
ranked fourth among National League
second basemen.
MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo suggests
that Walker’s importance may even
extend beyond the numbers.
“I think he’s the glue of the team,”
Mayo said. “As much as Andrew McCutchen is the leader because he’s the
best player, Neil Walker is because he’s
the local kid. There is something very
solidifying behind him that makes me
think he’s more valuable than the
numbers he puts up.”
Walker’s clubhouse leadership
makes him a valuable asset to the Pirates even when he is not in the

lineup, which, unfortunately, has frequently been the case.
In 2012, Walker missed 27 of the
last 35 games with a back injury. His
2013 season included two separate
trips to the DL, one for an injured finger and another for a strained oblique.
Injuries may prevent the Pirates
from investing heavily in Walker, who
will be 31 when his contract expires in
2017. Especially since the Pirates paid
Walker $5.75 million this past offseason to avoid arbitration.
“[Walker] is in that weird spot right
now where it’s very hard to sign a
player,” Joe Sheehan said. “If I’m Neal
Huntington, I’m not sure that I’m
looking to sign away Walker’s first
couple years of free agency. I’d be more
comfortable going year to year.”

“The Steelers could be looking
at reinforcements at receiver as
early as the first round. I anticipate that Texas A&M’s Mike
Evans will be long off the board by
the time the Steelers pick – and I
don’t believe he is necessarily worthy of the bounty of picks it likely
would take to move up to get him.
However, I anticipate that the
Steelers will add at least one receiver in the draft and possibly
more. Receivers with size may be
viewed as especially important.”

Shopping List
BY RYAN BERTONASCHI

The Steelers had a relatively quiet
offseason, but the Rooneys and general manager Kevin Colbert have
maintained a worry-free mentality.
The team will likely approach the
draft focused on two severe areas of
need: cornerback and defensive line,
according to Rob Rang, NFL Draft
analysis at CBSSports.com.
“Adding youth to an aging defense
would be priority No. 1, in my opinion,” said Rang. “This is especially
true in the secondary and along the
defensive line.”
Sideline reporter and former Pittsburgh guard Craig Wolfley said it’s
likely to be cornerback in round one.
“They’ve got to look at a cornerback to take over for Ike [Taylor] in
the coming years, and a lot of people
are talking about [Michigan State’s]
Darqueze Dennard,” Wolfley said.
Taylor turns 34 in May, and the
Steelers may select Taylor’s future replacement in the first round.
Dennard, the 2013 Jim Thorpe
Award-winner and two-time AllAmerican, collected 10 interceptions
and broke up 20 passes in his fouryear career as a Spartan, and the 6-0,
202-pounder ran a 4.42 40-yard dash
in last month’s combine.
Health appears to be the main concern with Dennard, who underwent
two sports hernia surgeries and a
shoulder surgery at Michigan State.
Defensive line is also a priority.
“[Free-agency] losses of Ziggy
[Hood] and Al Woods are huge, and

Steelers’ focus on d-line, corner, receiver
you want to secure your nose tackle,”
Wolfley said. “Steve McLendon
wasn’t disappointing last year, but he
didn’t rise to the level I anticipated.”
Notre Dame’s Louis Nix III was
projected as a 2014 first-round sureshot heading into his final season with
the Irish, but he underwent surgery to
repair a torn meniscus in November.
Despite the injury, he is down to 331
pounds, 20 pounds lighter than he
weighed at Notre Dame.
If Colbert sees too much risk in Nix,
he may hold off until the second
round, where Penn State’s DaQuan
Jones or Tennessee’s Daniel McCullers could be waiting.
Wide receiver is another area of interest after Emmanual Sanders left for
the Broncos and Jericho Cotchery for
the Panthers in free agency.
While a big-body like Texas A&M’s
Mike Evans would be an ideal addi-

tion to Ben Roethlisberger’s arsenal,
the Steelers did add former Saints receiver Lance Moore in free agency.
Wolfley likes an in-house option to
fill the final receiver spot – former
Rochester High School and Penn
State star Derek Moye.
“There are two ways a receiver can
create mismatches,” Wolfley said.
“One is with speed, and other is with
size. Derek Moye is a big guy, and he’s
got some player capabilities.”
The potential emergence of the 65, 210-pound Moye could allow the
Steelers to spend third and fourthround picks on running back, linebacker or offensive line depth.
“The nice thing, from the Steelers
perspective, is that the receiver group
is the strength of this year’s draft
class,” said Rang, adding that “future
starters are likely to be available in the
middle rounds.”

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14 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014

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NFL Draft Big Board
even view him as the best quarterback in the class.
8. Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA: Barr is a
tremendous linebacker, whose
hyper-athleticism helped him reach
All-American status in college. He’ll
need to hone his instincts in the
NFL, but if he does so can be great.
9. Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State:

Clowney is one of the best draft
prospects in recent memory. While
he has his detractors, if Bill O’Brien
and the Houston Texans determine
none of the quarterback prospects
are worthy of the first selection,
Clowney is the best option.
2. Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo: The linebacker
from Buffalo didn’t get a ton of
recognition during his brilliant career in the MAC, in which he set an
NCAA record for career forced
fumbles, but is finally getting his fair
share in the scouting process.
3. Greg Robinson, OT, Auburn: The best
player on the national champion
runners-up Auburn Tigers, Robinson has shined in the pre-draft
process and appears to be the best
offensive lineman available.
4. Blake Bortles, QB, Central Florida: In the
see-sawing debate of “best QB in

the draft,” Bortles gets the edge over
others because of his play’s uncanny
resemblance to that of Ben Roethlisberger. His skills appear to be very
translatable.
5. Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson: While
comparisons to the taller Calvin
Johnson or AJ Green may not be
entirely accurate, Watkins is a
tremendous WR prospect who
would likely immediately step into a
WR1 or WR2 role.
6. Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M: While
Mike Evans and Johnny Manziel
were the ones scoring the touchdowns for the Aggies, Matthews was
the one providing time to make
those plays happen. He could be
second straight A&M tackle (Luke
Joeckel) to go top 5.
7. Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville: For a
while, Bridgewater was considered a
lock for the first overall selection.
However, after a push by Bortles and
a disappointing pro-day, some don’t

Gilbert gets the nod over Michigan
State corner Dennard because of his
rare combination of size (6-0, 232)
and speed (4.37 40-yard dash). He
led the Big 12 with 7 interceptions
in 2013.
10. Mike Evans, WR, Texas A&M: Johnny
Manziel’s top target for the Aggies,
Evans was a man among boys in college. With his large frame and great
athleticism, he reminds many of the
Bucs’ Vincent Jackson.
11. Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State:

The cousin of New England Patriots’ CB Alfonzo Dennard, Darqueze
is considered more talented than his
relative. He’s not as fast as Gilbert
but the Thorpe Award winner may
be just as good.
12. Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina: Everyone
who has seen Ebron play know the
comparison: the next Jimmy Graham. Some think that the fast, athletic tight end could be even better.
13. Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt: After an accolades-filled offseason in which he
won four national awards, Donald
raised eyebrows with his athleticism
at the combine, and is now considered the top DT in the class.
14. C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama: Captaining
a Nick Saban defense says a lot. He’s

not the biggest linebacker but has
enough speed to defend the pass,
while instincts that will make him
serviceable versus the run.
15. Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M:

Manziel is one of the most intriguing
draft prospects in recent memory.
Unlike a prospect like Tim Tebow,
Manziel’s mechanics aren’t an issue,
but size and durability concerns are
for the 5-11 former Heisman winner.
16. Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State:

While he might not have the explosiveness that Aaron Donald does,
Jernigan’s size could allow him to be
a better fit in a wider array of defensive schemes, and could potentially
be the first defensive tackle taken.
17. Zack Martin, OT, Notre Dame: Martin
shined in the Senior Bowl, and saw
his draft stock soar. He made 52 career starts at Notre Dame and
should be ready to step in and start
immediately.
18. Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville: Pryor is one
of the big risers of the draft process,
as the athletic safety has jumped
Hasean Clinton-Dix as the top
safety in the draft in many scouts’
eyes.
19. Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Florida State:

The 6-5 receiver is the epitome of a
boom-or-bust pick. The former
Seminole has all of the measurables,
but lacks top-flight speed, and struggled with drops at times in college.
20. Marqise Lee, WR, Southern Cal: Lee,
who would be the number one WR
almost any other year
SEE 21-40 on PAGE 20

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PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014 15

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Hall of Famers On the Way
Three Potential Superstars in the 2014 Draft Class
BY GEOFF PFEIL

The 2014 NFL Draft is shaping up to
be one of the deepest in recent memory.
Here are four prospects whose future
paths may eventually lead to Canton.
South Carolina DE Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney is no stranger to the bright
lights. He was the consensus number
one high school recruit in 2011 when
he opted to stay in his home state of
South Carolina. He was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2011 and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year
in 2012. Clowney gained additional attention when, in a postseason matchup
with Michigan, he destroyed Wolverine
running back Vincent Smith eight
yards behind the line of scrimmage—
knocking Smith’s helmet into orbit in
the process—and forced and recovered
a fumble that led to an eventual South
Carolina win.
That’s what Clowney is: a gamechanging defensive presence. His mixture of size, speed and pure athleticism
makes him a rare, once-in-a-generation
talent. If he seems like an obvious name
to make this list, it’s because he is.
His detractors—and there are
many—claim that he has a poor work
ethic which will derail his career. Or
he’ll fold under the immense pressure
that will follow him wherever he’s
drafted. And like any defensive lineman with a long frame (6-5, 266), he’ll
be vulnerable to cut blocks – although

no team in NFL history has ever passed
on a healthy player for fear that he
might get hurt someday L.C. Greenwood and Julius Peppers are just two of
many long ends who somehow survived.
Don’t listen to the critics. Clowney is
the real deal.
Auburn OT Greg Robinson

Six-feet, five-inches tall. 332 pounds.
32 reps on the bench. Vertical of 28.5
inches. Now imagine all of that traversing 40 yards in under five seconds. Impressed? You should be.
Robinson displayed off-the-charts
athleticism at the NFL combine, a big
reason why he is now considered the
top offensive line prospect in the draft,
jumping ahead of his majorly talented
peers Jake Matthews and Taylor Lewan.
That isn’t to say, however, that
Robinson’s game doesn’t speak for itself.
He was an instrumental component in
Auburn’s top-ranked rushing attack,
which averaged an absurd 328.3 yards
per game. His lack of experience is the
only real knock against him – Robinson
only played two years at Auburn and
has only been playing football since his
junior year of high school. Additionally,
the Tigers offense was so run-heavy
that he was rarely tasked with keeping
his quarterback upright, which has reasonably called into question his ability
to effectively pass block in the NFL.
He will be raw as a rookie, but he will
soon become an elite NFL left tackle.

Eric Ebron
North Carolina TE Eric Ebron

Ebron is the next iteration of the
freak athlete tight end. At 6-4 and 245
pounds, Ebron creates major mismatches with DBs and LBs alike. He
rewrote the record books for the tight
end position at UNC, taking the lead
in career receptions (112) and receiving
yards (1,805), as well as claiming the
2013 single season records in the same
categories (62 and 973, respectively).
Did I mention that he ran a 4.6 40-yard
dash and may have the best hands in
the draft? He’s not the greatest blocker,
but he’s no slouch either, and he should
continue to improve in that area as his
body responds to the weight training
regiments of the NFL.

Ole Miss WR Donte Moncrief

Moncrief is the only player on this list
projected to be drafted outside of the
first round. This is mostly due to the insane amount of wide receiver talent
represented in this draft, and also partially due to a perceived lack of production by Moncrief Ole Miss.
Clemson’s Sammy Watkins is the
consensus top wideout in this year’s
draft. Moncrief edges Watkins physically and in most combine drills.
This is no knock on Watkins, who is
obviously a great talent – but the gap
between the two is a thin one, and if
Moncrief really does fall late into the
second round, or even the third, some
lucky team is going to have an absolute
steal on their hands.

The Steelers’ offseason additions and
subtractions have given a peek into
what may be going on in the team’s
South Side War Room as the team prepares for one of the deepest drafts in
years. With the 15th overall pick, the
Steelers still have a huge opportunity to
bolster the roster. And as the team’s
needs become clearer, a group of several
players has emerged as potential targets
for the Black and Gold in 2014.

Some believe that Nix was the beneficiary of playing alongside another potential All-Pro in Stefon Tuitt in South
Bend, and while his NFL Combine performance didn’t help, his mammoth size
and collegiate film still have scouts enamored. Any rushed comparisons to
Vince Wilfork—or even Casey Hampton, for the matter—are not fair to Nix,
but he would be a welcome addition in
the middle of a defensive line that
struggled for good parts of 2013.
C.J. MOSLEY, LB, ALABAMA

KELVIN BENJAMIN, WR, FLORIDA STATE

jamin was last seen catching the
game-winning touchdown pass in this
year’s BCS Championship game for
Florida State, before deciding to leave
school early to enter the draft. With
one of the best size-talent combos in
the draft, the 6-5, 240-pound Benjamin
certainly looks the part of an elite-level
receiver. He might not have the speed
that some teams want from a numberone receiver (4.61 40-yard dash), but
he would provide a much-needed vertical threat in the passing game.
LOUIS NIX, DT, NOTRE DAME

Nix is a large human being, to put it
mildly, and he utilized his size to put together a terrific college career that was
a large part of Brian Kelly’s revitalization of the Fighting Irish. The 6-2, 340pound defensive tackle isn’t much of a
threat in the area of pass rush, but more
than holds his own against the run.

The Steelers need to find a replacement for Larry Foote at the buck linebacker spot, after cutting the veteran
loose cut this offseason. While Vince
Williams was solid as a rookie, and Sean
Spence continues his comeback from a
devastating knee injury, Mosley would
be able to step in immediately and has
a higher ceiling than either. The twotime first team All-American, despite
being somewhat undersized at 6-2, 234,
has one of the highest football IQs in
the draft, and would have no issues
learning Dick LeBeau’s defense.
MIKE EVANS, WR, TEXAS A&M

Like Benjamin, Evans would fill a
much needed hole for the Steelers as a
vertical deep threat. At 6-5, 231, Evans
often out-muscled and out-jumped defenders in college. While, like Benjamin, he lacks elite-level speed, he has
better hands than Benjamin and is a
better blocker. Also, his experience

Kelvin Benjamin

playing with Johnny Manziel would
translate to the improvisational style of
Ben Roethlisberger, as Evans showed a
knack for helping out in broken plays.
Evans probably won’t last until the 15th
pick, however.
DARQUEZE DENNARD, CB, MICHIGAN ST

Dennard, the cousin of New England
Patriots’ CB Alfonzo Dennard, would
serve as the heir apparent to the aging
Ike Taylor if the Steelers were to select
him at 15. While he had some injury issues in college–including a double hernia surgery– he has solid size (5’ 11”,
199 lbs) and speed (4.51 40-yard dash).
Dennard was the Jim Thorpe Award
winner for best defensive back in the
nation, and with his excelling in press

coverage would definitely be able to
sniff playing time right away.
Others to keep an eye on: CB Justin
Gilbert (Oklahoma State) and Jason
Verrett (TCU), DE Ra’Shede Hageman (Minnesota) and Stephon Tuitt
(Notre Dame).
Not This Year: Notre Dame’s Zack
Martin and Alabama’s Cyrus Kouandjio are two first-round offensive tackles
and both will likely be available when
Pittsburgh picks at 15. But the emergence of Kelvin Beacham and the Marcus Gilbert’s solid second half last year
no longer make the position a priority,
and the addition of Mike Munchak as
offnsive line coach could be all the upgrade the unit needs.

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PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014 17

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companies in the country, and we
are serious about creating jobs,
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and showing a deep respect for
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EQT and its employees are fueling
the growth of our country as a
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environmentally responsible
energy, and helping our local
communities reap the rewards.

2015 NFL Draft Prospects
The 2014 draft won’t take place
until May, but that doesn’t mean it’s
too early to start talking about next
year’s class.
Half a dozen prospects stand out
above the rest as top 10 draft picks
next spring, and half are quarterbacks.
UCLA’s Brett Hundley and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota were both eligible for this year’s draft, and both
were projected to be first round picks.
Hundley has the protoypical size at 63, 225, while the 6-2, 215-pound
Mariota offers a more intriguing
blend of skills. Florida State’s Jameis
Winston, however, might be the best
prospect of the three should he decide to come out. Winston blends
ideal size (6-3, 230) with great athleticism and uncanny pocket presence.
Cedric Ogbuehi, an offensive
tackle from Texas A&M, returned to
College Station for his senior year
and could be a top-five pick next
year. Ogbuehi, however, might not
even be the first offensive tackle to
go next season as Stanford’s Andrus
Peat will begin the year as a top
prospect.
The other consensus elite prospect
is Southern Cal defensive lineman
Leonard Williams. At 6-4, 290,
Williams is athletic enough and
strong enough to play end in a 3-4 or
tackle in a 4-3. Scouts are already
salivating at the prospect of using
him the way the Minnesota Vikings
used John Randle in his prime.
There are a couple of first-round
talents at receiver, starting with Alabama standout Amari Cooper and
Missouri’s 6-6 Dorial Green-Beckham. Maryland’s Stefon Diggs is a

Jameis Winston
winston
Jameis

first-round prospect as well.
Drafting a running back in the first
round is becoming less commen, but
there are three bruisers who could
prove to be exceptions next year in
Todd Gurley of Georgia, Melvin Gordon of Wisconsin and T.J. Yeldon of
Alabama.
Pass rushers like Clemson’s Vic
Beasley, Nebraska’s Randy Gregory,
Florida State’s Mario Edwards and
Florida’s Dante Fowler are definite
first-round prospects, and Michigan
State’s Shilique Calhoun, Georgia’s
Jordan Jenkins and Utah State’s

www.pittsburghsportsreport.com

Kyler Fackrell aren’t far behind.
There is a second-grouping of offensive tackles—Cameron Erving of
Flordia State, Iowa’s Brandon Scherff
and La’el Collins of LSU—who will
project as first-rounders with strong
2014 seasons, while Florida State’s
Tre Jackson is probably the top guard
at this early stage,
Tight ends Devin Funchess
(Michigan) and Luke Kaumatule of
Stanford are elite talents and potential first-rounders.
The cornerbacks are led by Ifo
Ekpre-Olomu (Oregon), Trae

“They’re some of the
best in the field — and
they help keep us on it.”
— Neil Walker

Big Board
Players 21-40

There’s nothing
like being on a
great team.
We’re proud to take the field with Neil Walker as the
Official Medical Provider of the Pittsburgh Pirates. All
year long, we’ll be there with the best in sports medicine
care — including physical therapy, speed and agility
training, surgery and rehab, exercise physiology, strength
and conditioning, sports psychology, concussion prevention
and more. All from doctors and specialists who utilize the
most modern techniques, treatments and technology.
We’re there for the Pirates, and we’re here for you, too.
With the same nationally renowned care that’s designed
to keep you at the top of your game.

Sports Medicine

412.DOCTORS

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20 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014

21. Ha-Ha Clinton Dix, S

31. Brandin Cooks, WR

Alabama 6-1, 208

Oregon State 5-10, 189

22. Kony Ealy, DE

32. Derek Carr, QB

Missouri 6-4, 273

Fresno State 6-2, 214

23. Stephon Tuitt, DL

33. Carlos Hyde, RB

Notre Dame 6-5, 304

Ohio State 6-0, 230

24. Ryan Shazier, LB

34. Kyle Fuller, CB

Ohio State 6-1, 237

Virginia Tech 6-0, 190

25. Louis Nix, DT

35. Jeremiah Attaochu, LB

Notre Dame 6-2, 331

Georgia Tech 6-3, 252

26. Dee Ford, LB

36. Bradley Roby, CB

Auburn 6-2, 244

Ohio State 5-11, 194

27. Taylor Lewan, OT

37. Cyrus Kouandjio, OT

Michigan 6-7, 309

Alabama 6-7, 322

28. Ra’Shede Hageman, DT

38. Kyle Van Noy, LB

Minnesota 6-6, 310

BYU 6-3, 243

29. Odell Beckham, WR,

39. Jordan Matthews, WR

LSU 5-11, 198

Vanderbilt 6-3, 212

30. Jason Verrett, CB

40. Allen Robinson, WR

TCU 5-9, 189

Penn State 6-2, 220

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NEW FACES
The 2014 Panthers will have
several new starters in the
line-up when they take the
field against Delaware Aug. 30
to open the season. Here’s a
look at who’s out and who’s in.
• WR: RONALD JONES,
KEVIN WEATHERSPOON or
MANASSEH GARNER replace

Youth
Movement
Pitt football turns the reins over to young talent
BY RYAN BERTONACSHI

When a college football team
loses its All-American defensive
lineman, starting quarterback and
top receiver to graduation and the
NFL, fans generally won’t get a
meaningful gauge for how the next
season might pan out until the season has already begun.
Despite a youth-inflated roster,
Pitt may be an exception to this
notion in 2014, according to defensive coordinator Matt House.
“There is a difference between a
freshman that’s going to be a sophomore that’s never played before,
compared to a freshman that’s been
on the field,” House said, using sophomore-to-be cornerback Titus
Howard as an example.
“Titus Howard has lined up against
Florida State—the national champions—so he can take that one way or
another,” House said. “The first time
he walks on the grass in a game situation this fall, it won’t be the first
time he’s been on a field with the
lights on. That means something.”
The biggest question for House
and his defense is how it will respond
to the loss of defensive lineman
Aaron Donald, who won four national awards and led the nation in
tackles for loss (2.2 per game).
The Panthers don’t seem too befuddled by the challenge.
Rather than calling on a single replacement for Donald’s production,
they’ve adopted the idea that they’ll
get it done collectively.
“We’re not going to have that one
guy that can just make every play, so
everybody’s got to give a lending
hand,” Darryl Render, a junior defen-

www.pittsburghsportsreport.com

sive lineman, said. “It’s just going to
have to be one big unit.”
Render and junior Khaynin Mosley
Smith hope to assume the roles of
Donald and Tyrone Ezell, while senior David Durham, newly healthy
juniors Ejuan Price and Devin Cook
and sophomore Shakir Soto will
compete for the defensive end jobs.
On the other side of the ball, Pitt
is down several offensive linemen.
Cory King, Ryan Schlieper and Juantez Hollins all played significant snaps
in 2013 and all have graduated.
“We’ve got five guys going through
their first spring so how they progress,
how we progress, will tell that story,”
Pitt coach Paul Chryst said. “Our last
game we had no depth, so it’s hard to
say if we’ve arrived, but we certainly
have more numbers right now.”
Dorian Johnson, a former five-star
recruit, will play an increased role in
2014. Depending on injury, redshirt
freshman Jaryd Jones-Smith and true
freshmen Mike Grimm and Alex
Bookser could get time, too.
The linemen will work to protect
quarterback Chad Voytik.

The redshirt sophomore has
slimmed down to 207 pounds. He’s
also seized every opportunity possible
to study film, something he said that
Chryst’s offense requires.
“This is a pro-style offense,” Voytik
said. “It takes a while to get a handle.“
The loss of receiver Devin Street
will hurt the Panthers, but they have
a handful of players competing for a
few spots alongside sure-shot starter
Tyler Boyd.
Kevin Weatherspoon, Chris
Wuestner, Dontez Ford, Ronald
Jones and converted tight end Manasseh Garner will battle for starting
positions. Jones, a senior who was
suspended for the 2013 season, is a
perfect fit for the slot.
“They all have different characteristics that are good in their own sense,”
said newly-appointed wide receivers
coach Greg Lewis. ”Ronald Jones has
stepped into a role with the opportunity to come in and do some good
things. Manesseh has come in and
picked up exactly where he left off.”

The Houston transfer excelled for the
Mountaineers in his only Big 12 season,
and continued to impress at the Senior
Bowl. At 6-0, 214, Sims has a great
frame and top-end speed. He’s drawn
comparisons to Matt Forte and is perhaps the strongest of all the running
back prospects in the passing game.
Considered a 3rd to 5th rounder.
Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia

A Taylor Allderdice grad, the 6-8,
275-pound Clarke has great length, excellent strength and above-average athleticism. His consistency was a problem,
however, which has left him short on
technique and lacking in polish. His size
and flashes of dominance, however, will
get him a job on Sundays. Late 3rd to
5th round.
Devin Street, WR, Pitt

TOP LOCAL PROSPECT
Aaron Donald, DT, Pitt

Donald was the most decorated defensive player in the nation in 2013, collecting every major award for which he
was eligible. The 6-1, 285-pounder
dominated the ACC as a senior, blew
away opposition at the Senior Bowl and
was a combine star. Considered one of
the "safest" prospects of the first round,
Donald is consisently ranked as a top
15-20 pick.

TOP HALF OF
THE DRAFT
Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State

One of the most productive receivers

in the nation the last two seasons,
Robinson probably leads the second
group of receivers in a deep draft at the
position. He lacks top-end speed and
isn’t as polished as the top five or six receivers in the top group, but his leaping
ability and big frame (6-2, 220) make
him a solid second-rounder.
DaQuan Jones, DT, Penn State

Jones has perfect size at 6-4, 322, and
very good quickness. His workout numbers at the combine were good, and his
film shows a solid NFL tackle prospect
with the ability to play early and improve with experience. His productivity
didn’t match his skill, but he still seems
a safe bet for the second day.

22 PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014

Street was productive enough over
his four years at Pitt to become the
school’s all-time leading pass catcher.
He brings good size at 6-3, 190, and
solid speed, but a deep receiver draft will
likely push him toward the middle to
late rounds.

LATE ROUNDERS
Glenn Carson, LB, Penn State

The 6-3 244-pound Carson projects
as a solid run-stuffing inside linebacker
and stands a good chance to hear his
name called on the draft’s final day.
Matt Feiler, OT, Bloomsburg

Feiler, 6-6, 330, played both guard
and tackle at Bloom, and although he
has tackle size he’s likely best-suited for
guard at the next level.
Kaleb Ramsey, DT, Boston College

A good run-stopper with great
strength and good quickness, the Laurel
Highlands graduate battled injury issues
his entire career.

Tom Savage, QB, Pitt

Savage is late-riser after strong Combine and Pro Day showings. His armstrength is ideal, as is his toughness, but
his lack of mobility makes him a late selection.
John Urschel, G, Penn State

Extremely intelligent with great
awareness and intangibles, Urschel is
undersized but scrappy and may have to
play both guard and center in the NFL.
Larry Webster, TE/DE, Bloomsburg

A former basketball star, the 6-6, 252pounder was a pass rusher who also got
some red zone time as a tight end. His
athleticism may get him drafted.

The first spring drills in the James
Franklin Era began March 17 for the
Penn State Nittany Lions, and his arrival brought a new attitude and a revamped mentality to Happy Valley.
“We are a process oriented organization, not a goals oriented organization,” Franklin said before the start of
spring practice. “What I’m worried
about is them waking up every single
morning and being the best they can
possibly can be, academically, athletically, socially and spiritually.”
Steve Jones, Penn State’s play-byplay announcer, said the biggest difference between Franklin and his
predecessor Bill O’Brien are their
management styles.
“James Franklin oversees every
phase on the practice field,” Jones
said, “while Bill was offensive coordinator so a good portion of his practice field focus was there.”
His fresh outlook on Penn State
football what the team needs after a
tumultuous couple of years with
NCAA sanctions, transfers and endless speculation about former head
coach Bill O’Brien leaving for an
NFL job.
“I just want to get the most we possibly can out of every single day,”
Franklin added.
Getting the most out of his new
team will start with the play of rising
sophomore quarterback Christian
Hackenberg, who will be throwing to
a new pair of starting receivers.
With All-American Allen Robinson and fellow starter Brandon Felder
gone, sophomore Eugene Lewis is the
leading returning wide receiver after
catching 18 passes for 234 yards and
3 touchdowns last year.

Penn State Ushers in Franklin Era With Spring Drills
Sophomore Richy Anderson (13
receptions for 111 yards) is expected
to take over in the slot, and the
coaching staff is expecting big things
from DaeSean Hamilton, who was
sidelined his freshman season due to
wrist injury sustained in high school.
“Where our issues come is depth,”
Franklin admitted. “Our issues in the
secondary, if you’re going to play
some young guys, that is the position
to do it. Wideout, corner, things like
that, you can get away with it.”
The Nittany Lions plan to make up
for the lack of depth at receiver with
three excellent tight ends. Adam
Breneman, Kyle Carter and Jesse
James combined for 58 catches, 741
yards and 7 touchdowns last year.

www.pittsburghsportsreport.com

Those numbers could go up now that
all will play bigger roles.
Veterans Zach Zwinak and Bill Belton will get competition from Akeel
Lynch at running back, but there is
not a lot of experience on the offensive line outside of guard Miles Dieffenbach and tackle Donovan Smith.
Jones weighed in on the team’s
depth issues.
“I think some people think because
they received extra scholarships that
all was well again,” he said. "The
sanctions did damage to the depth of
this team in certain spots. Two years
ago Bill O’Brien could only bring in
10 players... That affected the depth
especially at linebacker and offensive
line.”

Defensively, sophomore Brandon
Bell will replace Glenn Carson at
middle linebacker, where he’ll be
flanked by returning starters Nyeem
Wartman and Mike Hull.
Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan
return on the edge, while Austin
Johnson and Anthony Zettel will play
bigger roles inside.
The secondary will be led by senior
safety Adrian Amos and talented
junior corner Jordan Lucas.
“You’ve heard me say before we’re
going to sell out every single game
next year,” Franklin said. “I truly believe once we get everybody pulling
the rope in the same direction that
we can build something really special
here.”

PITTSBURGH SPORTS REPORT • APRIL 2014 23

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